Sunday, November 29, 2015

FG denies austere package for Ministers

The Federal Government (FG) has denied tampering with the
salaries and allowances of the newly sworn-in Ministers, reports ITRealms.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam
Garba Shehu in a press statement made available to ITRealms said that such
story making around in the media, said no one especially President Muhammadu
Buhari has not tampered with the salaries and allowances of the Federal
Ministers.

ITRealms recalls that a section of the media has reported
that barely three weeks in office, President Muhammadu Buhari shocked the new
ministers with poor salaries and austere allowances.

According to the reports, while the substantive minister
will earn N2,026,400 annual basic salary($8,514.285), Minister of State is to
get N1.8million($7,563.025) per annum. Other highlights of the conditions
as reported include “Estacode Allowance($900 per diem); Duty Tour
Allowance(N35,000); Utilities Allowance(Telephone/ Electricity/ Water)–30% of
Annual Basic Salary (N607,920); Domestic Staff Allowance(75% -((N1,519,800) of
Annual Basic Salary; Medical Facilities (in accordance with NHIS Policy);
Special Assistant (To be provided in kind); Security (To be provided in kind);
Air Travel (By Business Class); Newspaper Allowance (15% of Annual Basic
Salary-N303,960).”

But as said by the spokesperson to President Buhari, “They
(salaries and allowances) remain as have been prescribed by the Revenue
Mobilization and Fiscal Commission under a law passed in 2008.”

Garba also noted that the President and the Vice President have voluntarily
offered a 50 per cent salary cut, which does not apply to Ministers or other
political appointees.

“This is voluntary and does not apply to Ministers and other political
appointees,” he declared, insisting that reports to the effect that the
President has imposed an austere package on the ministers are unknown to the
Federal Government.

“The administration has not tampered with the salaries of ministers and that
remain as prescribed under the law,” Garba maintained.